{"id":1920,"date":"2026-03-01T09:04:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T09:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news678.top\/?p=1920"},"modified":"2026-03-01T09:04:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T09:04:43","slug":"joe-cole-identifies-chelsea-weakness-that-arsenal-could-expose-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=1920","title":{"rendered":"Joe Cole identifies Chelsea weakness that Arsenal could expose | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Macclesfield\t<\/div>
Ex-Chelsea star Joe Cole is worried about the side\u2019s set-piece frailties ahead of the derby (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Joe Cole says he hopes Chelsea have \u2018addressed\u2019 their frailties at defending dead-ball situations ahead of their clash with \u2018set-piece kings\u2019 Arsenal this weekend.<\/p>\n

After a run of five straight wins in all competitions, Chelsea have stuttered in their fight for a top-five place, dropping points in both of their last two Premier League matches against teams battling for survival.<\/p>\n

Rosenior\u2019s men appeared to be cruising at home to Leeds as goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer gave them a healthy cushion at the halfway stage at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

But the visitors fought back and salvaged a draw as Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor\u00a0struck in a frantic second-half period to put a dent in Chelsea\u2019s hopes of Champions League qualification.<\/p>\n

And there was a feeling of deja vu last weekend as Joao Pedro once again put the Blues in front with an early goal, only for Zian Flemming to head home a late James Ward-Prowse corner following Wesley Fofana\u2019s sending off.<\/p>\n

It means the west London giants find themselves languishing down in sixth place ahead of today\u2019s high-stakes derby, three points behind both Manchester United and Liverpool in the table.<\/p>\n

But the Club World Cup holders know they can get their season back on track \u2013 while damaging Arsenal\u2019s title ambitions in the process \u2013 with a resurgent performance at the Emirates this afternoon. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
The Blues have surrendered leads to draw their last two league games (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Joao Pedro opened the scoring against both Leeds and Burnley (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the slip-up against Burnley, Rosenior received his fair share of criticism for sending on four defenders in the closing stages, rather than looking to increase the deficit.<\/p>\n

However, on Rosenior\u2019s tactics, ex-Chelsea winger Cole told Paddy Power: \u2018I can understand why Liam would bring on defenders, they\u2019d already had [Wesley] Fofana sent off. <\/p>\n

\u2018Ultimately, as a manager if you win the game you\u2019re right, if you don\u2019t you\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n

\u2018The goal was a bit of quality from Burnley but I think Liam will admit, and the players will admit, the performance was short of what was necessary for where Chelsea want to go.<\/p>\n

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The last ten minutes and how they conceded was almost by-the-by because you need to be able to put Burnley away at home.<\/p>\n

\u2018They didn\u2019t defend the set-pieces well for most of the game and that\u2019s something that will need to be addressed [before Arsenal]. <\/p>\n

\u2018When you\u2019re making that many subs, the organisation has to be spot-on. The lads coming on have to be ready.\u2019<\/p>\n

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According to Cole, the players have to take a certain amount of \u2018responsibility\u2019 for what went wrong after twice throwing away leads in their last two contests.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s not just the set-piece coach or the coaching in general, the players have to take responsibility as well because with that many changes, you have to sort it out yourselves on the pitch,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018You can\u2019t just stop and look over to the bench. <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s about maturity and responsibility and that\u2019s what cost Chelsea the game against Burnley.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Arsenal host Rosenior\u2019s side at the Emirates this afternoon (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cole says Chelsea can ill afford to put development ahead of winning matches if they are serious about lifting major silverware under Rosenior in the near future.<\/p>\n

\u2018When it comes to clubs like Chelsea, which are going for the big honours, you can\u2019t be thinking of blocking progress, because that means you\u2019re putting development above wins,\u2019 the former England international added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Without being disrespectful to teams like Bournemouth and Brighton \u2013 who develop players and sell players \u2013 Chelsea are the team that buys players from these clubs. <\/p>\n

\u2018Chelsea are going to go and try to win trophies.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Hull\t<\/div>
Delap has scored just one league goal since arriving from Ipswich (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It has proven an immensely tough debut season for Liam Delap at Chelsea, with the striker managing just one solitary goal in the Premier League following his \u00a330million arrival from Ipswich.<\/p>\n

But Cole is confident that Delap \u2018will only improve over time\u2019 if he continues putting in the hard yards with his \u2018fantastic attitude\u2019 both on and off the pitch.<\/p>\n

\u2018Liam just has to keep improving,\u2019 the three-time Premier League winner explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s a good player that first of all needs to outperform anyone else that could play in the number nine, like Joao Pedro. Then you can start comparing him to the other number nines around the league: Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, [Hugo] Ekitike and [Alexander] Isak. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Bournemouth\t<\/div>
Delap has some way to go before he can be compared to the Premier League\u2019s best, says Cole (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018You can\u2019t even think about comparing him to Erling Haaland at the moment, but it\u2019s step-by-step.<\/p>\n

\u2018When you sign for a club like Chelsea, being \u201cdeveloped\u201d has gone out the window. You\u2019ve got to deliver and step up. <\/p>\n

\u2018I do think he can get better and he\u2019s got a fantastic attitude, so that tells me he will only improve over time.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Palmer has been linked with Manchester United in recent months (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off the pitch, there has been mounting speculation surrounding the future of star man Cole Palmer, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United \u2013 the team he has supported since childhood.<\/p>\n

\u2018It wouldn\u2019t be a smart move from a football standpoint,\u2019 Cole said, addressing the recent rumours.<\/p>\n

\u2018Maybe it\u2019s a smart move from a business standpoint. <\/p>\n

\u2018I suppose business always has to take precedence over football, because obviously if you don\u2019t have a business, you don\u2019t have a football club. <\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ve seen teams go into administration recently so I\u2019m trying to think logically, you have to marry the two. <\/p>\n

\u2018I can\u2019t in any world view think that selling Cole Palmer sends out the right message. Unless the lad is pushing for a move, which I don\u2019t think he is, you have to keep him.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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